EUGENE -- With Mark Helfrich one practice -- excuse us, spring game -- away from concluding his second spring football session as Oregon Ducks head coach, here are five things to watch for when Oregon scrimmages Saturday inside Autzen Stadium, beginning at 11 a.m.

Remember this about the annual spring game, though: It is a showcase for the backups, not so much the starters. Junior quarterback Marcus Mariota, the man in the middle of the 2014 Heisman Trophy discussion? He'll likely play only a few series, Oregon's offensive coaches have said. Same for Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, the shutdown senior corner. For the most part on Saturday, the backups move to the forefront.

1. It's just one practice, but who performs well at receiver? The Ducks' search for De'Anthony Thomas' successor as a running back who can moonlight at receiver was of high interest entering spring. Then Bralon Addison injured ligaments in a knee and suddenly Oregon was without its top returning wide receiver.

Receivers have become the story line all spring since then, and for good reason. Outside of senior Keanon Lowe, a terrific blocker with steady hands, no one is a known quantity. Devon Allen and B.J. Kelley have the speed, Dwayne Stanford the height, Chance Allen the potential, Darren Carrington the questions after an injured hand and Johnathan Loyd -- the 5-foot-9 former Oregon point guard -- the fewest expectations yet highest intrigue. And that doesn't name them all. It's not an overstatement to say this will be the most-watched position group.

2. The eternal question: How do the backup quarterbacks look? Helfrich has noted, cryptically, that some separation has emerged in the race for Mariota's backup between sophomores Jake Rodrigues and Jeff Lockie this spring. Yet there isn't enough separation to declare one the outright winner. Does that difference show itself Saturday, or will this position battle continue to be as opaque as ever? Also of interest is how well redshirt freshmen Damion Hobbs and Taylor Alie play. Alie, the walk-on from Eugene's Sheldon High, is said to have enjoyed a very nice run in spring practices. See if that shows through, as well.

3. The Robinson twins: Last fall, then-defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti remarked that 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker Tyrell Robinson could start if his knowledge of the playbook caught up to his prodigious physical gifts. Now entering his sophomore season, Robinson's role -- and whether he'll earn more repetitions at linebacker despite the position being the defense's most experienced unit -- is worth keeping an eye one because of his solid debut as a true freshman, in which he played in nine games.

His twin brother's skills and role are perhaps even more intriguing. Tyree Robinson is in the thick of the job for starting safety after spending the fall as a redshirt. Tyree, who is also 6-4, is talented enough to have made his position coach, John Neal, shake his head in wonder in early April while recalling a series of plays Tyree made. He's a physical player whose aggressive style is aided by his basketball hops and large frame, but I want to see his coverage skills, as well.

4. Offensive line depth: With every starter returning from the Alamo Bowl, Oregon's offensive line doesn't have many questions surrounding it. There is one, however, and the spring game should shed some light on an answer: How do Oregon's backups look, particularly at left tackle?

Starter Tyler Johnstone's ACL injury suffered in the Alamo Bowl isn't expected to force him to miss many, if any, games in the fall. (He said April 1 that his injury wasn't as bad as initially feared.) Still, having competent backups is crucial for any team, and whether that means Matt Pierson or Andre Yruretagoyena or someone else takes Johnstone's spot in the interim is of interest. Also, how do Jake Pisarcik -- a guard who learned to play center this spring -- and Doug Brenner -- a center who learned to play guard -- and JC transfer guard Haniteli Lousi perform? Each will be a key second-team contributor come fall.

5. Defensive lineman T.J. Daniel: The whispers started in January, during winter conditioning. T.J. Daniel looks great on defense. Or, He added a ton of weight. Now it's May, and several coaches have praised Daniel's last month of practice for how he's "cut it loose" since digesting the defensive playbook. It sounds as if the converted tight end has lived up to the winter hype, but the media hasn't been able to interview him all spring and, of course, any visual confirmation of his progress is null with all practices closed. How does he move? We'll see Saturday.

That could be said about many more players than just Daniel, of course. The spring game is just one of 15 practices and Oregon coaches have said its performances won't be weighted any differently than any of the other sessions that preceded it. Yet it's a glimpse, albeit brief, into the makeup of the 2014 Ducks.

And here's what Oregon fans say they will be be watching for:

@AndrewGreif Ill be watching for the new swagger the defense is supposed to have. A less complex D with players just flying around.